New Guinea Impatiens plant named ‘Doimmagre’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Impatiens  plant named ‘Doimmagre’ characterized by its upright, outwardly spreading and mounding plant habit; vigorous growth habit; freely branching habit; dark green-colored leaves; freely and early flowering habit; relatively large red-colored flowers; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Impatiens hawkeri.

Cultivar denomination: ‘DOIMMAGRE’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of New Guinea Impatiens plant, botanically known as Impatiens hawkeri and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Doimmagre’.

The new Impatiens plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventors in Koka, Ethiopia and Rheinberg, Germany. The objective of the breeding program is to create new early and freely flowering New Guinea Impatiens plants with large attractive flowers and good garden performance.

The new Impatiens plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventors in November, 2012 in Koka, Ethiopia of Impatiens hawkeri ‘Fidimpmaxred’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 25,119, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Impatiens hawkeri identified as code number NN04-008130-001, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Impatiens plant was discovered and selected by the Inventors as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Rheinberg, Germany in April, 2013.

Asexual reproduction of the new Impatiens plant by terminal vegetative cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Rheinberg, Germany since June, 2013 has shown that the unique features of this new Impatiens plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Impatiens have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature, daylight and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Doimmagre’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Doimmagre’ as a new and distinct Impatiens plant:

-   -   1. Upright, outwardly spreading and mounding plant habit.     -   2. Vigorous growth habit.     -   3. Freely branching habit.     -   4. Dark green-colored leaves.     -   5. Freely and early flowering habit.     -   6. Relatively large intense red-colored flowers.     -   7. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Impatiens can be compared to plants of the female parent, ‘Fidimpmaxred’. Plants of the new Impatiens differ primarily from plants of ‘Fidimpmaxred’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Impatiens are more upright than and not as         broad as plants of ‘Fidimpmaxred’.     -   2. Plants of the new Impatiens flower earlier than plants of         ‘Fidimpmaxred’.     -   3. Plants of the new Impatiens have larger flowers than plants         of ‘Fidimpmaxred’.

Plants of the new Impatiens can be compared to plants of the male parent selection. Plants of the new Impatiens differ primarily from plants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Impatiens flower earlier than plants of the         male parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Impatiens have larger flowers than plants         of the male parent selection.     -   3. Plants of the new Impatiens and the male parent selection         differ in flower color as plants of the male parent selection         have dark red-colored flowers with blue undertones.

Plants of the new Impatiens can be compared to plants of Impatiens hawkeri ‘Tamar Dark Red’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 19,423. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Impatiens differ primarily from plants of ‘Tamar Dark Red’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Impatiens flower earlier than plants of         ‘Tamar Dark Red’.     -   2. Plants of the new Impatiens have larger flowers than plants         of ‘Tamar Dark Red’.     -   3. Plants of the new Impatiens and ‘Tamar Dark Red’ differ in         flower color as plants of ‘Tamar Dark Red’ have darker         red-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Impatiens can also be compared to plants of Impatiens hawkeri ‘Duemagpin’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 25,035. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Impatiens differ primarily from plants of ‘Duemagpin’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Leaves of plants of the new Impatiens and ‘Duemagpin’ differ         in lower surface color as lower surfaces of leaves of plants of         ‘Duemagpin’ are red purple in color.     -   2. Plants of the new Impatiens and ‘Duemagpin’ differ in flower         color as plants of ‘Duemagpin’ have soft pink-colored flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Impatiens plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Impatiens plant.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Doimmagre’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the top of the sheet is a close-up view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Doimmagre’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown during the winter in 16.5-cm containers in a polyethylene-covered greenhouse in Encinitas, Calif. and under cultural practices typical of commercial New Guinea Impatiens production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures averaged 26° C., night temperatures averaged 18° C. and light levels ranged from 4,500 to 5,500 lux. Plants were 25 weeks old when the photographs and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Impatiens hawkeri ‘Doimmagre’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Impatiens hawkeri ‘Fidimpmaxred’,             disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 25,119.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of Impatiens             hawkeri identified as code number NN04-008130-001, not             patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By terminal vegetative cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer and winter.—About five to             seven days at temperatures about 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer and             winter.—About three to four weeks at temperatures about 20°             C.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; typically white in color,             actual color of the roots is dependent on substrate             composition, water quality, fertilizers, substrate             temperature and age of roots.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Upright to outwardly spreading and             mounding plant habit; freely branching habit with about ten             primary lateral branches each with about four secondary             lateral branches developing per plant; vigorous growth habit             and moderate to rapid growth rate.         -   Height, soil level to top of foliar plane.—About 28 cm.         -   Height, soil level to top of floral plane.—About 29 cm.         -   Plant diameter or spread.—About 54 cm. -   Lateral branch description:     -   -   Length.—About 24 cm.         -   Diameter, primary lateral branches.—About 1.2 cm.         -   Diameter, secondary lateral branches.—About 8 mm.         -   Internode length.—About 5.5 cm.         -   Strength.—Strong.         -   Aspect.—About 15° to 45° from vertical.         -   Texture and luster.—Smooth, glabrous; glossy.         -   Color, when developing.—Close to 183A.         -   Color, fully developed.—Close to 187A. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite or in whorls of four or five leaves;             simple.         -   Length.—About 12.7 cm.         -   Width.—About 4.4 cm.         -   Shape.—Elliptical.         -   Apex.—Acuminate.         -   Base.—Attenuate.         -   Margin.—Entire with ciliation.         -   Texture and luster, upper surface.—Smooth, glabrous;             slightly glossy.         -   Texture and luster, lower surface.—Smooth, glabrous; matte.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate; arcuate.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper and lower surfaces: Close to             146B. Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Slightly darker             than 147A; venation, close to 183B. Fully expanded leaves,             lower surface: Close to 147B; venation, close to 183C.         -   Petioles.—Length: About 4.5 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm.             Strength: Strong. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,             glabrous; matte. Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to             183C. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower type and flowering habit.—Relatively large single             rounded axillary flowers; freely flowering habit, typically             about 175 flowers developing per plant; flowers positioned             above and beyond the foliar plane; flowers typically face             mostly upright to outwardly.         -   Flower longevity.—Flowers typically last about two to three             days on the plant under greenhouse conditions; petals             self-cleaning, gynoecium persistent.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Natural flowering season.—Year-round under greenhouse             conditions; in the garden, flowering continuous from spring             until fall in California; early flowering habit, plants             typically begin flowering about twelve weeks after planting.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 2.5 cm. Diameter: About 2 cm.             Shape: Ovate. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; slightly             glossy. Color: Close to 45A.         -   Flower diameter.—About 7 cm.         -   Flower depth.—About 1.8 cm; with spur, about 4.2 cm.         -   Petals.—Quantity and arrangement: Five per flower in a             single whorl. Banner petals, length: About 3.2 cm. Banner             petals, width: About 5.8 cm. Lateral petals, length: About             3.6 cm. Lateral petals, width: About 3.7 cm. Lower petals,             length: About 3.5 cm. Lower petals, width: About 4 cm.             Shape: Cordate. Apex: Emarginate. Base: Attenuate. Margin:             Entire. Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces:             Smooth, glabrous; velvety; matte. Color: When opening, upper             surface: Close to 46A. When opening, lower surface: Close to             44A. Fully opened, upper surface: Close to 45A; towards the             base, close to 46A; venation, close to 45A; color does not             fade with development. Fully opened, lower surface: Close to             44A; venation, close to 44A; color does not fade with             development.         -   Sepals.—Quantity and arrangement: Three in a single whorl;             two lateral sepals and one center sepal modified into an             elongated spur. Lateral sepals, length: About 1.4 cm.             Lateral sepals, width: About 6 mm. Center sepals, length:             About 2 cm. Center sepals, width: About 1.4 cm. Shape:             Elliptical. Apex: Acuminate. Base, lateral sepals: Truncate.             Base, center sepal: Modified into a curved spur, fused into             a slender tube. Margin: Entire. Texture and luster, upper             and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; moderately glossy.             Color: When opening, upper surface: Close to N170C. When             opening, lower surface: Close to 183A. Fully opened, upper             surface: Close to 185D; towards the apex, close to 45D.             Fully opened, lower surface: Close to 45D. Spur length:             About 5.5 cm. Spur diameter: At the flower, about 3 mm. Spur             texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; moderately glossy.             Spur color: Close to 53A.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 4.8 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm.             Angle: About 45° to 55° from branch axis. Strength: Strong.             Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; slightly glossy.             Color: Close to 185A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity: Five fused at             anthers; filaments free. Filament length: About 3 mm.             Filament color: Close to 46A. Anther size: About 3 mm by             5 mm. Anther shape: Oblong. Anther color: Close to 161C.             Pollen amount: Moderate. Pollen color: Close to 158C.             Pistils: Quantity per flower: One. Pistil length: About             8 mm. Stigma diameter: About 1.5 mm. Stigma shape: Rounded.             Stigma color: Close to 145B. Style length: About 1 mm. Style             color: Close to 145B. Ovary color: Close to 146A tinted with             close to 187C.         -   Seeds and fruits.—To date, seed and fruit production has not             been observed on plants of the new Impatiens to date. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: To date, plants of the new Impatiens     have not been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common     to Impatiens plants to date. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Impatiens have been observed     to have good garden performance and tolerate temperatures ranging     from about 5° C. to about 40° C. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Impatiens plant named ‘Doimmagre’ as illustrated and described. 